EC urges Party Agents to revert to observer role

Accra, March 16, GNA - The Electoral Commission (EC) on Tuesday urged Political Party Agents at the voter registration centres to refrain from assuming the role of Registration Officers (RO) and Assistants.

Ms Laurentia Kpatakpa, EC Greater Accra Regional Director told the Ghana News Agency that "the Party Agents were granted Observer Status and under no circumstance should they assumed the role of Registration Officers."

She appealed to all centres without the Registration Officers to contact the Commission for immediate re-posting of Officials to such centres.

Ms Kpatakpa was reacting to a news item that party agents of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have taken over the registration of voters because of the failure of designated registration officials to turn up for duty.

The Regional Director also appealed to all Registration Officers, who failed to turn-up to report to duty post immediately, stressing, "we should all demonstrate our patriotism and desire for entrenching democratic governance in the country."

On the problem of allowance, Ms Kpatakpa explained that originally an amount of 150,000 cedis was suggested for the Registration Officer (RO) and 120,000 for the Shading Officers (Registration Assistants). The Commission however, reviewed the amount upward to 200,000 cedis for the ROs and 120,000 cedis for the Registration Assistants, which she said, was communicated to all concerned.

She therefore, expressed surprise that some ROs in Greater Accra failed to turn-up for the exercise, creating unnecessary panic at such centres, creating an opportunity for some zealous party agents to take over the functions of Registration Officers.

Ms Kpatakpa also appealed to District Directors of Educations, Headmasters/mistress to release teachers under their jurisdiction that had been trained for the exercise to participate.

She said some registration officers (Teachers among them) had informed the Commission that their institutional heads had refused them permission to undertake the exercise even though they were informed ahead of time.

On the late distribution of registration materials, the Regional Director said the controversy between Government and EC over the establishment of a procurement committee affected preparation for the exercise.

She said materials and other preparations were unduly delayed, adding that the electoral process is time bound and any omission could have repercussive effect on the whole timetable of the Commission. Ms Kpatakpa said the process for the registration started with sensitisation and publicity, recruiting operatives, training of Trainers, and the training of ROs.

She said the creation of 30 new Constituencies also had effect on the preparation of a timetable, as new polling stations had to be created.

She however, assured the general public not to panic over the operational lapses that had occurred since, "it is normal for some of these little, little hiccups during such operations; the whole process would take shape after the first two days."

She appealed to the media, political parties, non-governmental organisations, civil society organizations and all stakeholders to join hands with the Commission for a successful exercise.

The Greater Regional Director also urged Churches nationwide to use their pulpit to appeal to their members to participate in the registration exercise.